Method of counterbalancing crank-wheels.



PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906. c. .T. WBSILAKE. l

METHOD OF GOUNT-ERBALANGING GRA'NK WHEELS..-

APPLICATION FILED P3112. 1906.

To aZl w'hone'it may concern:

CHARLES T. WESTLAKE, or srLoUIs, MISSOURI, Assle-uos r'o DAVIS'LOOOMOTIVE WHEEL COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS,- MISSOURI, CORPO- RATIONQFDELAWARE.

marl-loo OF'COUNITEBBALANCING CRANK-,WHEELS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. February 12, 1906. Serial No. 300,820.

I Be it known that 1, CHARLES T.WESTLAKE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at St. Louis, in the State. of Missouri, have inventeda new'and Improved Method of Counterbalancing Crank-Wheels, of which thefollowing is a specification. I i

jMy invention relates to an improved method of counterbalancing theweight of the crank-pin and its appurtenances in a crank-. wheel, andhas for its object to obtain a perfect equilibrium of the wheel when soloaded during a complete revolution thereofon its axle in every positionof the crank-pin.

According to the usual method of counterbalancing a crank-wheel whenfree to revolve on its axle and formed with a counterbalanceweightapproximately equal to, but invariably, owin to inequality of casting,either greater or less than that required, a pin or bolt is tem orarilyfixed centrally 1n the 'cran'k pin ho e, and from the outer projectinportion of the pin is suspended the actua weight of the crank-pin andits appurtenances. A similar pin is then fixed to the spokes of thewheel adjacent to its counterbalance-weight and at apoint diametricallyopposite to the crank-pin, and from this pin or from that at v thecrank-'pinhole (as the case may be) is suspended additional weight untilthe wheel balances: The amount of weight to be added to or subtractedfrom the counterbalanceweight can thenbe mathematically ascertairred. Ifthe weight is to be deducted from the "counterbalance, the face of thelatter is reduced by planing, and if to be added thereto sheet metal ofthe requisite weight. and cut to the outline of the' counterbalance isriv-' eted thereon. When the crank-wheeLis provided withtwo-counterweights, this method My invention consists in features ofnov- *elty, as hereinafter described nd claimed,

reference being had to the, .ompanying drawings, forming part ofthis-specification,

.whereon v 1 igure 1 is an inner side elevation of-a loco ot i vecrank-driving wheel constructed. ac-

. nthereof on line 2 2 in'Fi 1, and Fig.3 anedge --view to reduced sc'a(broken away) showing the method of deterdmg to my invention; Fig. 2, across-seer e of the wheel;

mining the counterbalance weight required therefor. V

- Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts inallthefigures.-

a represents a crank wheel having the the crank-pin (not shown) in theusual Wellknown manner. combined weight of the crank-arm b and itsloaded crank-pin the wheel a is formed or provided, preferably near itscircumference, at an equal distance radially from the arm I)counterbalance-weights c of equal wei ht, their aggregate weight beingsomewhat ess than that of the arm b and its appurtenances.

each counterbalance c and parallel to the j axis of the wheel a isformed a circular hole 2, which is described from a center lineintersecting the center of gravit of the counterbalance a, and abouttheho e 2, at equal distances, respectively, from each side of a radialline passing through-the center of the hole 2 and throu h the axialcenter of the wheel a, are formei preferably in its inner side andpartway through the counterbalance 0, one or more circular recessesorholes3, which are parallel to the hole 2,and symmetrically arrangedrelatively thereto and to each other.

For determinin the amount of extra for alancing the crank-arm 1 and itsappurtenances the wheel a is mounted and free to revolve on its axis (Z.(See Fig. 3.) A temporary pin or bolt14 is then fixed in andproectscentraIIy from the crank-pin hole 1, and from the in 4 issuspended a-weight'fi, equal tothat o the said parts to be balanced. Asimilar each counterbalance c,'and from the pins '6 pm 4 or the w eel abalanced.

cles were concentrated at its center of grayityandas the holes 2 and 3are arranged I the latter by fillinggo 3 uniformly on eac Forcounterbalancing the,

and" from each other. with preferably two Transversely through (or partwaythrough) weight to be adde to each counterbalance c '8- al in theaggregate to the weight 5 on the katented June 1Q, 1900. i

crank-arm b, in which is formed the hole 1 for pin or" bolt 6 is fixedin'the hole 2 of ar suspended equal weights 7 ,which are ad- Now as aweight falls asthough its parti- IOO ,s'ymmetricall about the center ofgravity of .each counter alanc'e c jany wei ht' added to artly fil'n'gthe holes si" e of the hole 2 will act" "during a completerevolution of the wheel a on its axls d.

The advantage of my improved method over the ordinary method is thefacility with which the adjustment is effected in adding to thecounterbalance by filling the holes 3 instead of by riveting platesthereto. Also by applying the test Wei ht at the center of gravity ofthe acounter alance the necessity of calculating the required weight isobviated and the result obtained consequently more accurate andreliable.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The method of balancing a crank-wheel,

consisting in forming the counterbalance thereof initially of lessweight than that of" recess in the counterbalance at each side of aradial line passing through the centers of the said axis and hole, thesaid recesses bein symmetrically arranged relatively to the sai hole andto each other, determining the extra weight to be added to thecounterbalance by suspending weights respectively from the crank-Wheelat the center of its crank-pin hole, and from the counterbalance at itscenter of gravit and inserting the pro ortionate part of t 1e saidweight within eac of the said recesses, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence 'of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES T. WESTLAKE.

